“I’m Rae Lynn,” Diesel’s sister replies, sticking her face in front of mine. “I hear good things about you. Like you’re an official badass.”
Wait. What kind of smile is that on my brother’s face? Is he shy?!
“You would have heard wrong, then,” he replies, but he’s still grinning. And my god, are his ears turning pink. “You’re Diesel’s sister, I know who you are.”
“Uh oh.” Her brows go up. “What did he tell you about me?”
“Well, let’s see. You jerked down the tree with your truck because your ex-boyfriend carved another girl’s initials in the bark.”
I’m so fascinated by this conversation, I almost forget I’m mad at Caleb.
“I admit, that was a bit hot-headed, I was seventeen.” Rae Lynn says as she shrugs, looking adorable as hell in her black western shirt. “Don’t worry, I planted a few trees to make up for that one.”
He laughs. Actually chuckles. Never in my years of talking to Caleb while he’s been on deployment has he laughed. Not once.
They chat for another minute, then Rae Lynn tosses him a wink. “Stay badass, there, hotshot. Catch you around.”
She bounces toward the hotel room door. “Hit me up after the shindig. We’ll get a Galentine’s beer together.”
I give her a thumbs up, because I might as well drown my misery. She’ll be entertaining at the least. Maybe I’ll get to watch her blowing annoying men off.
Caleb’s somber again when I get back on the call. We look at each other for a minute. He’s probably no more sure of what to say than I am.
Finally my cork pops from the pressure. “Have you talked to Diesel?”
“No, but Gray has.”
Caleb’s never lied to me. Not even to protect my feelings, but he’s not going to say anything he doesn’t want to share.
So, he changes the subject. “I called to wish you luck this weekend. Are you ready?”
“Shasta is.” I fidget with the collar of my shirt. “I’ll do my best, but you know I’m not in a good place.”
A tense silence follows. “I love you, River. Stay close to Stone tonight, promise me.”
“He’s right outside the door, not much hope of escaping him.”
“Look,” he says solemnly, dark blue eyes burning into me. “We’ll talk after this weekend when I can get time to call again. I’m sorry. I know this hasn’t been easy.”
The latch turns on my door. It’s Stone, I’m sure because it’s time to go and he has a key. “Gotta roll, don’t stop being a badass, Caleb.”
He shakes his head. “Right. Just doing my job. Talk to you after the event.”
When he disconnects, I sigh, dropping my head.
“Hey.”
I whip around. It’s not Stone.
CHAPTER 22
My boots glue themselves to the floor as I stare at the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen. She’s wearing the pink shirt and jeans that we got from Dee Dee. But she could be wearing her tattered barn clothes and I wouldn’t care.
A wiggle and whine from the furball in my arms breaks the trance.
River hasn’t moved. Except for her hand which is furiously wiping tears away from her eyes.
“You came…”
